North Manitou Trail

Stuff We Love

By Ross Boissoneau | Sept. 6, 2025

James Filkins’ latest album of acoustic guitar compositions, North Manitou Trail, is available as a CD, download, and on streaming platforms…but don’t expect to hear him playing it live. The lifelong musician plunged headfirst into composing and recording after retiring from teaching five years ago, and performing isn’t on his agenda. The gentle music is based around his nylon-string guitar—with occasional accompaniment from area musicians like cellist Crispin Cambell and Katie Larson and Sav Madigan from The Accidentals—along with others from across the world he found through the online hiring resource Fiverr. “When I write, I’m thinking about areas. I’ve always done that,” says Filkins. Titles such as “Keweenaw,” “Sunny Park in Harbor Springs,” and “Tunnel of Trees” bear that out. Listen, purchase, or find out more at JamesFilkins.com.